Lorain adapts to garbage carts

Some residents still waiting for wheeled cans

By
Richard Payerchin, The Morning Journal

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The learning curve continues for Lorain’s new method of waste collection, but Lorainites are adapting well, according to Republic Services, despite some residents saying it’s not going as planned in the first 30 days of the garbage bin system.

“Given the size of the community, from our perspective, things are going very well,” said Dave Kidder, area municipal services manager for waste hauler Republic Services. “With some room yet for adjustments.

“There is a learning curve from both sides, for not only the residents, but for us as well to get everything in place that needs to be in place.”

Mayor Chase Ritenauer used the same “learning curve” phrase to describe the phasing in of automated trash collection by which residents put out their refuse in wheeled cans, or carts, for garbage and recyclable materials.

Some Lorain residents still are waiting for their carts, Kidder and Ritenauer said.

There are a number of homes in Lorain that were not on Republic Services’ original distribution list for carts, Kidder said.

Those mostly were duplexes and triplexes that have one water meter, but in actuality, are two or three residences, he said.

That situation “is nobody’s fault,” Kidder said. “It just requires us to order some additional carts and deliver those and they will get added to the city list.”

Some residents, estimated to be up to 700 households, want larger or smaller carts. As of May 16, about 200 or so were waiting to get the new cans.

Out of about 21,000 units, the waiting list is down to less than 1 percent of the population, Kidder said.

“So, all things considered, again, from our perspective, it’s going well,” he said. “Is it perfect at this point? Not yet.

“But the issues will be resolved once all units get their carts and once everyone gets the size they are waiting for, which is being done as we speak every day.”

The need for carts has caused some confusion and complaints.

Lorain resident Joyce Richardson of West Erie Avenue said she felt like she was getting nowhere asking for the wheeled cans.

“I’ve been fussing with these people for over a month and never got a straight answer,” Richardson said.

However, on May 16 Richardson said the mayor’s staff helped her determine her address was listed as a commercial site, not a residence, and carts were to be on the way by May 17.

Republic Services does not yet have data on recycling rates in Lorain because not everyone has the proper cart, Kidder said.

He predicted recycling will increase in the city and figures should start to emerge as early as June.

In 2017, it is possible to recycle more materials than five years ago, Kidder said.

Over time, proportionally, Lorain will start to send more materials for recycling than for burying in the landfill, Kidder said.

While recycling is mandatory in some parts of the country, Kidder acknowledged it is not mandatory in Ohio.

The goal is to improve not just the amount of recycling, but to help the aesthetics of Lorain, he said.

“In order to do that, the materials really need to be in the carts,” Kidder said.

Lorain resident Maria Garcia of East 31st Street said she was annoyed that a Republic Services truck driver would move cans so the automated truck could lift and empty them on her street.

But, Garcia said the driver would not load her extra bags into her can to remove them.

She said she used only her garbage can and it was overloaded because when her seven children and 21 grandchildren visit on the weekend, they cook out all the time and generate “garbage galore.”

She said she will not sort materials for recycling, but would if it was mandatory.

“I’m 60 years old,” Garcia said. “I don’t have time to recycle anymore, not with all my grandkids in the house.”

Ritenauer spoke about the extra bags stacked next to carts in his discussion with Lorain City Council at Council’s meeting May 15.

“As we get going, I think common sense should prevail,” he said. “If somebody has a cart out and a bag next to it, whether it’s the bulk truck or the actual trash truck, pick up the bag. “That’s just kind of where I’m at with it all.”